Watch Out For Strange Call About Medical Alert System

Greensboro, NC -- A call we keep getting over and over this week - complaints about a robocall for a medical alert system. More than 100 people have complained to the Attorney General's office so far.

The caller is John. He sounds like a live person - the way he talks - but he is a recording. Jim Hoeger of Greensboro knows this first-hand. He tried telling John to stop calling him - calling him over and over again - during dinner. Jim says, "It seemed very strange. The call started out saying they wanted to arrange shipping of some alert system, and I hadn't ordered any alert system so it sounded kind suspicious."

The message goes on to say "...It's already been paid for so there's no cost to you whatsoever. It also says here the shipping's already been paid for. So to schedule delivery of your emergency medical alert system, press 1."

Jim didn't press 1. He hung up but then, "I tried reverse calling, and I immediately got, 'This is a number that has been disconnected or is no longer in service.' So that made me suspicious."

The AG's office says he's right to be concerned. The state's top cop says this is either a ruse to steal money or to bill your health insurance provider for a device you may not need or want. One complaint to the AG's office does say the company asked for a credit card number.

People are also complaining to the Better Business Bureau of Northwest NC. David Dalrymple says it's often hard to stop these kinds of companies because they can be all over the world and out of reach of US authorities. So he says the burdens on us and offers these tips: